Top 10 Teams Affected by the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery

The Pistons had the second worst record in the NBA, but, having drafted three potential stars last season in the first round, they were rewarded with the #1 draft pick, which they will most likely use to draft Cade Cunningham as a potential franchise player although there have been reports that Cunningham, while a frontrunner, isn't a lock at #1. Still, Detroit should be able to hit with this pick.

Of all the teams in the NBA draft lottery, the Rockets had the most to lose. Because of the Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook trade with Oklahoma City, any pick inside the top four was going to be kept by Houston, which was a 52% chance it happened. Had the pick been outside the top 4, a 47% chance that happened, the pick would've gone to OKC, which meant the Rockets would've had Miami's spot at #18. Houston managed to slide in at #2. Even without the chance to draft Cade at #1, the Rockets have a few other great choices in Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, and Evan Mobley to draft at #2, which they hope will be able to build a title contender in a few seasons.

It seemed like Oklahoma had the odds in their favor as they had a 52% chance of a top five pick along with Houston's 48% pick going outside the top four. Unfortunately for them, they landed at #6 and Houston kept their pick. This means OKC will have one top 10 pick plus picks 16 and 18 in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Toronto had the seventh best odds to claim the #1 pick, but with Orlando, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota falling, the Raptors wound up in the top four of the draft. Just two years after winning their first NBA championship, Toronto has a great chance to have a fresh start in hopes of winning again.

In addition to the 14th pick, the Warriors got an added bonus when they acquired Minnesota's pick at #7 because of D'Angelo Russell trade. Golden State might not be able to get any of the top five players taken in the draft, but they have options to retool and look to recapture their glory days from this past season.

Minnesota hoped and prayed for a top three pick or else, they would lose it to Golden State from the D'Angelo Russell deal. Unfortunately for them, seven is not part of the top three.

Despite not landing in their expected spot at #3, the Magic still have two top 10 picks in the draft. Their own pick at #5 and the #8 pick, which was Chicago's original pick from the Nikola Vucevic deal.

Like Toronto, the Cavaliers also moved up to the top four of the draft. They had the same odds of winning the draft as Oklahoma City despite OKC owning the tiebreaker. With Colin Sexton and Darius Garland on the squad, Cleveland is looking to either get among the trio of Mobley, Green, or Suggs, or use the pick as leverage for a big return.

Chicago thought the deal for Nikola Vucevic would pan out for them that they used a protection deal in hopes to keep their pick in the future. However, Vucevic hasn't worked out well for the Bulls and they don't have a first rounder for 2021 and will give up a 2023 first round pick to Orlando.